[Actress holding tambourine], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This card, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co., shows an actress with a tambourine, one of many in a series designed to promote Duke Cigarettes. Although it appears to be a photograph, this small card was actually mass-produced using industrial printing processes. These cards, often collected by consumers, used images of actresses, sports figures, or notable landmarks to entice customers and create brand loyalty. The actress, along with her tambourine, served to glamourize and add value to a very addictive substance. The material of the card itself speaks to a larger story of consumer culture, where images became commodities, and were circulated widely as promotional tools. By understanding the processes behind its creation and the context in which it was circulated, we can appreciate how it reflects the broader economic and social forces at play during the late 19th century.